Our Professors
Founder - Artist Director
Agathe Leimoni is born in Athens. She obtained her Diplomas of Piano (class:Gerassimos Kakalis), Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue (class:Andrea Carbone), with the highest distinctions in Greece and continued her musical studies in Italy, obtaining the Diploma of Piano (class: Luigi Mostacci, State Conservatory of Bologna).She has been a student of Julia and Konstantin Ganev for several years.She has attended the class of “Perfectionnement” at the “Ecole Normale de Musique” in Paris, for two years, with Germaine Mounier and Young Shin An.Since her childhood, she has participated in many master classes of famous pianists who have commented her special musical nature, her brio and sensibility and received prizes and distinctions in various International Competitions.
Agathe Leimoni
Raquel Boldorini
Uruguay
Thelma Da Capo
Igor Petrin
Russia
Lilia Boyadjieva
Bulgaria
Thelma Da Capo
Marina Pliassova
Norway-Russia
Sylvia Chu
Luisa Fanti
Italy
Konstantinos Valianatos
Greece
Sylvia Chu
Ching-Wen Hsiao
Taiwan-USA
Agathe Leimoni
Founder - Artist Director
Agathe Leimoni is born in Athens. She obtained her Diplomas of Piano (class:Gerassimos Kakalis), Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue (class:Andrea Carbone), with the highest distinctions in Greece and continued her musical studies in Italy, obtaining the Diploma of Piano (class: Luigi Mostacci, State Conservatory of Bologna).
She has been a student of Julia and Konstantin Ganev for several years.
She has attended the class of “Perfectionnement” at the “Ecole Normale de Musique” in Paris, for two years, with Germaine Mounier and Young Shin An.
Since her childhood, she has participated in many master classes of famous pianists who have commented her special musical nature, her brio and sensibility and received prizes and distinctions in various International Competitions.
She has given a lot of recitals in Europe (Greece, Italy, Germany, France, England, Bulgaria, Belgium, Norway, Austria, Russia and Rumania), in South and Central America (Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico), participating also in many important Festivals.
She has performed as a soloist in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Rumania and Uruguay with the Orchestras of Athens, Thessaloniki, Bologna, Napoli, Sliven, Arad, Russe, Sibiu and Montevideo. She has been a member of Jury and President in many National and International Musical Competitions, in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Spain and Rumania.
She is a piano Professor and Head of the Piano Department at the Hellenic Conservatory of Athens and in Pythagorio Conservatory of Athens.
Since 2007 she is Professor at Schola Cantorum of Paris, where many of her students have graduated the last years, obtaining the superior Diplomas with the highest distinctions.
Since 2010 she is a regular Professor at the International Piano Academy of Belgium ”Primavera Pianistica”.
Since 2013 she has been nominated Visiting Professor at the Gnessin’s Music Academy of Moscow, starting a new artistic collaboration between the Russian Academy and the Helleneic Conservatory.
She has given master classes in Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Norway and South America with great success.
She has been teaching since the age of 16, and her successful pedagogical career has established her as one of the most promising Professors of piano in Greece and abroad. She has been travelling with her students in many countries and has offered them the chance to experience many musical opportunities and international events. Her pupils have won many prizes in National and International Competitions and have been distinguished abroad.
She has been awarded the golden medal of UNESCO and a special Diploma as a honorary member of the ‘CH.O.N.’ Musical Association of Greece, for her unique teaching and artistic contribution.
She has been awarded the Golden Medal of the “Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers” and she has been acclaimed as the best pedagogue in the International Music Competition “Music and Earth” – Sofia 2006, for her pupils’ success.
She has been presented as a Soloist and Professor several times by the radio and tv in Greece and abroad . She has been interviewed by various newspapers and channels and received very enthusiastic critics from journalists in Greece and abroad.
She is Vice President of ‘CH.O.N.’ Musical Association of Greece.
She is the founder and Artistic Director of the ‘International Seiler Piano Competition – Rhodes 2004′, the ‘International Piano Festival- Rhodes 2004′, the ‘International Seiler Summer Piano Academy – Rhodes 2005′ ,the ‘International Seiler Piano Competition and Festival–Rethymno 2006′ and the International Summer Piano Academy and Festival of Poros since 2009.
Raquel Boldorini
Raquel Boldorini - Uruguay
Studied in Montevideo, Uruguay, at the National Conservatory of Music. Post-graduate work included studies with Eliane Richepin, Marguerite Long, Leon Fleisher, Sergio Lorenzo and Maria Tipo.
A major prizewinner, has won awards at the following competitions: Vercelli (Italy), Recife (Brazil), Vina del Mar (Chile), and Lalewicz (Argentina).
In 1975 received a scholarship to attend the Aspen Music Festival where she won a prize to play a Mozart Concerto.
She has played recitals in all major cities of Latin America, USA, France, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Greece, Taiwan and Russia.
The review in the New York Times was “bejeweled playing could hardly be more expert or sympathetically in tune with the material”. Hailed as “an aristocrat of the piano” (Washington Post). She has been praised for her “pianistic experience and superb sensitivity” (The Post and Courier, Charleston SC). And for her “bewitching musical personality” (La Razon, Buenos Aires)
Lilia Boyadjieva
Lilia Boyadjieva - Bulgaria
Lilia Boyadjieva’s playing has won widespread acclaim:
“Powerful and delicate, masterful and idiomatic” – “Intensity of purpose and bold dynamic control” – “Lyrical, mercurial reading as well as a strong one” – “Power of expression allied to extreme emotional tension”
Audiences at every performance are invariably enthralled, surprised, sometimes disturbed but never indifferent. With unwavering conviction, she has interpreted works from the full spectrum of the established repertoire: from J.S. Bach – for whose music she entertains a very deep admiration and appreciation – to the 20th century music, for which she feels a special affinity – working exhaustively on Samuel Barber and Shostakovich as well as on most Bulgarian and Greek composers – through the standard classical, romantic and post-romantic works.
Her recording of Barber’s complete piano works has been praised by Fanfare Magazine (March/April 1997) as : ” probably the most valuable CD solely devoted to Barber’s keyboard music.” In particular, her interpretation of the Barber Sonata (op. 26), “played with an extraordinary combination of power and delicacy, is one of the finest readings on record.” Among critics, the consensus is that her strong interpretative skills bring new dimensions to familiar works, in addition to being both inspiring and exciting.
Born and educated in Sofia, Bulgaria, she completed her studies at the Moscow Conservatory « P. I. Tschaikovsky », with Professor T. D. Gutman. Her awards at international piano competitions include prizes at Senigalia (Italy – 1979), Vianna da Motta (Portugal – 1983), Maria Callas (Greece – 1985) and more.
Lilia Boyadjieva pursues a brilliant soloist career mainly in Europe. Invited by prestigious Festivals (Montpellier, Auvers-sur-Oise, Sofia, Athens) she performs in recitals as a soloist, with orchestras and with chamber music ensembles in various countries. Radio and television organizations in different countries often broadcast her concerts.
Very appreciated for her teaching abilities, she has taught at the Sofia Musical Academy, in Athens and Paris (CNR, Schola Cantorum). She gives numerous master classes in Greece, France and the U.S.
The American label ARTEK Recordings has recently published her CD “Around the Fugue” – a polyphonic journey from Bach until today – wonderfully brought forth by her exceptional talent. A new Shostakovich CD (2nd Sonata, 24 Preludes and 3 Fantastic Dances) has been produced by the same label in 2009.
Luisa Fanti
Luisa Fanti - Italy
LUISA FANTI, after Piano graduating in 1988 with Francesca Maggini and Jazz Music in 2002 from Bologna’s “G.B.Martini” Conservatory, she graduated also the High level Diploma in Chamber Music (two pianos) from the Piano International Academy of Imola – (BO) and the Academic High Diploma in Musical Discipline – soloist – from Conservatory of Parma.
She won prizes in National and International Piano Competitions : as soloist 1° prize at “Ottocento Festival di Saludecio - Cattolica”, “Forgione di Verbania (NO)”, in Piano 6 hands Trio 1° prize at “Paul Harris” Milano and 1° prize at International Competition in Marktoberdorf; other prizes in “Bardolino-Verona”, “Trofeo Pietro Napoli- Livorno”, “Coppa pianisti d’Osimo”, “Rovere d’oro – Imperia (in trio flute, cello and pf)”, “Franchini - Reggio Emilia (in duo with flute), “Fidapa- Pisa (in duo 4 hands)”.
Appreciated by M° Vladimir Ashkenazy, she has been a studying with Valerij Voskobojnikov for several years. Other teachers include A. Delle Vigne, L. Mostacci, S. Fiorentino, R. Cappello. She has been performer extensively as soloist, piano and orchestra and chamber musician (piano duo and trio, duo con organo; duo, trio e quintetto con archi e/o fiati) throughout Italy (Società dei Concerti di Milano, Conoscere la Musica di Bologna, Teatro Comunale di Lugo, Università di Bologna e Siena – where she holded a conference for Epta Italy about “Teaching and Piano Music by Lino Liviabella”, Siena Chigiana Academy with Octandre Ensemble, Agimus, Associazione Amici della Musica) and Europe - Greece, Russian (soloist and piano duo), Bulgaria (soloist and with orchestra), Germany, Swiss, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Canary Islands, France, Portugal. She was member of Baynov Piano Ensemble performing in 4/8 pianos (from 8 to 16 hands) in german Festivals. In 2001 she took part in the performance of Bach Goldberg Variations taken by 32 local pianists at Bologna’s Municipal Theater.
She is member of Tokio Piano Duo Association.
Since 1992 she has been teaching piano in many State Conservatories (Parma, Pesaro, Potenza, Gallarate /VA, Bergamo where she teaches also Piano Repertory History and Methodology of Piano Teaching. Currently she is Piano and Piano Duo teacher at Bologna Conservatory.
Member of Jury at “IX Concorso pianistico Internazionale Andrea Baldi ” 2019 and 2024 – Bologna , “Promenade 2006” – Vibo Valentia (VV)- 8° National Piano Competition “Luigi Paduano” – Cercola (NA) – 2004.
Her recording of D.Šostakovič “Complete 4 hands and 2 pianos works” - produced by Dynamic label– has been praised by Piano Magazine Parigi genn/febb ’05 and Classic Voice gen.’05.
Ching-Wen Hsiao
Ching-Wen Hsiao - USA
American pianist Ching-Wen Hsiao has performed extensively as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. She collaborated with Kurt Masur, James Conlon, James DePreist, and violinist Cho-Liang Lin. Dr. Hsiao performed at venues including Carnegie’s Issac Stern and Weill Recital Halls, David Geffen Hall, Steinway Hall, Ravinia Steans Institute, Rubinstein-Saal at Munich Steinway Haus, and Taiwan Concert Hall.
Dr. Hsiao made her concerto debut at the age of 16 with the Cebu Youth Symphony in the Philippines with four performances of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and appeared as soloist with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony, Arts Viva Orchestra, DuPage Youth Symphony, West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra, Yi-Qi Orchestra, and Evergreen Symphony Orchestra. Her performances were broadcasted live on WNIB and WQXR. She is a founding member of the Lyon Piano Trio and the Valianatos-Hsiao Piano Duo.
Dr. Hsiao is currently on the piano faculty at The Tianjin Juilliard School; prior to that, she served as assistant professor of piano and piano area coordinator at West Virginia University and was assistant professor of piano at Southeastern University. She was on the piano faculty at New York Juilliard’s Pre-College Division and Carnegie Mellon University’s Preparatory Division. She was executive director of the Geneva Conservatory of Music in New York City.
Dr. Hsiao has given masterclasses in several universities, such as the Texas Christian University, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Missouri State University, Penn State University, Duquesne University, and Mahidol University in Thailand. She taught at multiple music festivals, such as the Aspen Music Festival, U.S.-China Piano Festival, and Viana do Castelo International Music Festival in Portugal. Dr. Hsiao was regional director of the Elite International Music Competition and director of West Virginia International Piano Competition and Festival.
Dr. Hsiao graduated from The Juilliard School with a B.M., M.M., D.M.A. in Piano Performance under the tutelage of Yoheved Kaplinsky and Jerome Lowenthal. She is a recipient of Juilliard’s “Outstanding Pianist Award.” Her other principal teachers include Emilio del Rosario, Gordon Chin, and Juanelva Rose. She was the first prize winner at the Taiwan Piano Competition, Juilliard’s Gina Bachauer Piano Competition, Steinway's Solo Piano and Concerto Competitions. Dr. Hsiao also received an “Outstanding Scholarship” Award from Southeastern University, a Big 12 Faculty Fellowship from West Virginia University, and the “Rising Star Award” in Taiwan. Dr. Hsiao is a Steinway Artist.
Igor Petrin
Igor Petrin - Rusia
The artistry of Igor Petrin has thrilled audiences and inspired students the
world over.
A native of Siberia with its endless forests, rivers and lakes, Igor Petrin has
inherited and personified two of the richest and most noble artistic traditions of
the world: the Russian piano school of Heinrich Neuhaus, whose last student
V.Kastelski was I.Petrin`s teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, and
Konstantin Stanislavsky, the great actor and director whose investigation into
the forming and nurturing of the artistic image of the work to be performed,
has changed theatre forever.
Igor Petrin exemplifies in his performing and teaching the highest ideals of
these traditions. From the Neuhaus school, the technical mastery, colorful and
noble renditions of piano works, and from Stanislavsky an uncanny ability to
penetrate into the very essence of a work`s meaning and to create an
imaginary springboard from which to project this image. These qualities have
been heard in a wide range of genres of the chamber music.
As a solo pianist his huge repertoire spans the Baroque to the present era
and he has given world premieres of works of Greek, Spanish and Russian
composers.
Many of the students of his class at the Macedonia University of Thessaloniki
have profited from Petrin`s inspiring and life changing teaching and have gone
on to win coveted prizes in national and international competitions. Recently
the Russian and French press praised his "refined lyrical quality, the technical
perfection and rare sensitivity which subjugated the audiences"
Marina Pliassova
Marina Pliassova - Norway / Russia
Marina Pliassova is performing pianist, lecture and writer. Residing in Fredrikstad/Oslo. She is a member of the Norwegian Non-fiction Writers and Translators Association. Marina Pliassova is teaching at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, principal / piano / Young Talents; chamber music; The History of Piano Art; she is the head of the piano Department of the school of "Young Talents" at the Barratt Due music institute in Oslo. She is also the artistic director of pianotalentarena "Young Classisc" which is intended to support young piano talents.
Marina Pliassova was born in Irkutsk, Russia. She graduated from the Irkutsk College of Arts, and then the Novosibirsk Conservatory under Professors Natalia Nisvitzevich and Mark Shaviner. She is the winner of some national competitions in Russia, including the competition teachers-performers of the Krasnodar region in 1990 (first prize). In 1993 Marina got a job as a teacher and performer in Norway in the Lofoten Islands.
From 1995, Marina worked at the Music Conservatory of Northern Norway, a music gymnasium and music school in the city of Tromsø. Since 1998, Marina has lived in Oslo. She teaches at the Institute of Barratt Due, at the Conservatory Department and at the Department for talented children. She manages the piano Department of the school of “Young talents” at the Institute. Among her students, about 120 winners of national and international competitions. Many of them are soloists-performers on an international level.
For more than twenty years of teaching in Norway, Marina Pliassova has managed to create her own teaching methodology, successfully combining the traditions of classical Russian piano school and Scandinavian traditions that do not have such deep roots and classical regularity, but enriched this methodology in other, more democratic views on pedagogy.
In addition to teaching, Marina plays solo and chamber concerts, she is a member of the jury of some competitions as well as engaging in literary and scientific activity. She also regularly gives master classes in different countries, a lecturer in piano technique and the history of Piano Art in different cities in Norway. She writes articles, gives lectures and master classes in various cities of Norway, Russia and abroad, and writes fiction as well.
More information on the sites:
www.youngclassicsmusicfestival.com
Konstantinos Valianatos
Konstantinos Valianatos - Greece
Konstantinos Valianatos has attracted attention as an exciting musician of great talent in the United States, Asia, and Europe. The recipient of numerous awards, he has won eleven first prizes, six of them at International Competitions, including the International Seiler Piano Competition, the International Ibiza Piano Competition, the Senigallia International Piano Competition, the San Gemini International Piano Competition, and the Aspen Music Festival Competition. He is the recipient of the Gina Bachauer, Yamaha, Onassis, I.K.Y., George and Marie Vergottis Foundation, and Starr Foundation scholarships. In 2004, Dr. Valianatos’s artistic integrity and work ethos were officially acknowledged when the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos presented him with the highest accolade from the Athens Academy, the most prestigious academic institution in Greece.
Dr. Valianatos already enjoys an international performing career, having appeared in three continents: America, Europe, and Asia. He has featured as a soloist in concerto performances with the Athens State Orchestra, the Thessaloniki State Orchestra, the “Sinfonieta” Orchestra of Athens, the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, and the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. He has been heard both in solo recitals and as a chamber musician in numerous prestigious venues, including the White House, the Salle Cortot in Paris, Carnegie’s Weill and Zankel Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing (NCPA), Tianjin Grand Theater, Shenzhen Concert Hall, Shanghai Symphony’s Chamber Hall, the Kosciuszko Foundation, the Thessaloniki Megaron, and the Athens Megaron, and has been featured on WQXR’s McGraw-Hill Young Artist’s Showcase.
He was a founding member of the award-winning “Olympus Piano Trio”, a group dedicated to celebrating chamber music and the Hellenic spirit. The “Olympus Piano Trio” performed extensively in the US and Europe. Their CD with works by Mendelssohn, Ravel, and Hatzis was released by LP Classics in the Fall of 2016. Together with his wife, pianist Ching-Wen Hsiao, the Valianatos-Hsiao piano duo has appeared in the United States and China, tackling some of the most challenging works in the repertoire, such as their recent performances of Beethoven’s Grosse Fugue (in Beethoven’s own arrangement), Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, and Bartok’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.
Dr. Valianatos has participated in numerous music festivals as an educator and performer, including Aspen International Music Festival, Festival Mozaic in San Luis Obispo, Texas State University Piano Festival (Rising Star Series), Banff Music Festival, and the Piano Academy in Poros, Greece. He has been on the faculty at C’est Bon Chamber Music Academy in California since 2020.
From 2012-2016, Dr. Valianatos worked with the “Archdiocesan Metropolitan Youth Choir,” maintaining his ties with the Greek-American community of New York. Together with the choir, they appeared in such prestigious venues as Alice Tully Hall and Zankel Hall. In 2013 and 2015, they performed at the White House, in the presence of President Barack Obama, in celebration of the Greek Independence Day.
A great supporter of contemporary music, Dr. Valianatos has given premieres of numerous works. Together with tenor Martin Bakari and cellist Adrian Daurov, he recorded Grigory Smirnov’s hour-long song cycle “Dowson Songs,” along with the composer’s Chaconne for cello and piano. Their CD was released by Naxos in the Fall of 2016. As part of the FOCUS! Festival,
Dr. Valianatos and pianist Alvin Zhu performed Tania León’s two-piano piece, Satiné. More recently, preeminent Greek Canadian composer Christos Hatzis wrote his multi-movement solo piano work Face to Face for Dr. Valianatos, who gave the world premiere of the work in New York. As part of the Tianjin Juilliard Ensemble (TJE), Dr. Valianatos recently appeared at Xinghai Conservatory’s concert hall in Guangzhou, performing an eclectic program consisting exclusively of works by Chinese composers, as part of Chou Wen-Chung’s centennial celebrations. In addition, together with violinist Julia Glenn, they recorded an album of works by Chinese composers, which will soon be released.
Dr. Valianatos has attended numerous master classes with renowned pianists, including Murray Perahia, Paul Badura-Skoda, Ivo Pogorelich, Inon Barnatan, Robert Levin, Alfred Brendel, Alain Lefèvre, Jean-Claude Pennetier, France Clidat, Cyprien Katsaris, Martino Tirimo, Choong-Mo Kang Duo Ganev, Raquel Boldorini, Aaron Shorr, Oxana Yablonskaya, Bernard Ringeissen and Luigi Mostacci. His chamber music coaches include Julian Martin, Seymour Lipkin, Matti Raekallio, Joseph Kalichstein, Jerome Lowenthal, Rita Sloan, Nicholas Mann, Bonnie Hampton, Darrett Adkins, and Lara Lev.
A native of Athens, Greece, Dr. Valianatos began his piano studies at the age of seven at the National Conservatory of Greece. At age fourteen, he was awarded the “Diploma of Soloist” with highest distinction (class of Agathe Leimoni). He continued his studies in Paris at the École Normale de Musique “Alfred Cortot” with Germaine Mounier (“Diplôme supérieur d'exécution”) and at Schola Cantorum with Agathe Leimoni, (“Diplôme de Concertiste). Dr. Valianatos holds B.M. (class of Jerome Lowenthal and Veda Kaplinsky), M.M. degrees, and D.M.A. degrees (class of Julian Martin and Veda Kaplinsky) from the Juilliard School. He is currently on the piano faculty at the Tianjin Juilliard School, where he teaches in both the Pre-College and Graduate programs. Previously, he taught at West Virginia University’s School of Music, Carnegie Mellon’s Preparatory School, and Tianjin Juilliard’s Music Development Program.
The Conductor of the invited Orchestra, "Sinfonietta" of Athens
George Aravidis
George Aravidis - Greece
Giorgos Aravidis was born in Athens in 1965.He studied Piano and Advanced Theory
(Harmony,Counterpoint,Fugue) at the” Hellenic Conservatory of Athens” and obtained his
Piano Soloist and Theory Diplomas with the highest distinction.
He continued his studies at the “Ecole Normale Superieure de Musique de Paris”,in France
where he studied Orchestra Conducting with Professor-Conductor Dominique Ruits.He
graduated with first distinction.
After completing his studies,he was accepted as a student at several Orchestra Conducting
Masterclasses:Richard Schumacher (Switzerland),Yuri Simonov (Hungary) and Choir Conduct
ing with Peter Erdei (Hungary).
He participated in the 16 th National Conducting Competition in Lugano (Switzerland) with
success.
He attended various seminars including “Carl Orff” in Austria (Universitat Mozarteum Salzburg-Orff Institut) and “Zoltan Kodaly” in Hungary (Kodaly Pedagogical Institut of Music).
He began his career in Paris by conducting regordings by young French composers (in first performances),ballet music and film scores.
He has conducted varius orchestras abroad,including the “Symphony Orchestra of South
Hungary”,the “National Symphony Orchestra of Cyprus”,the Italian Orchestra “Giovanni
Partenopea”.
In Greece,he conducted the “National Orchestra of Salonika” at the age of 26.Since then,he
has conducted several high-profile orchestras,including the “National Orchestra of
Athens”,the “Symphony Orchestra of the National Radio (ERT)”,the “Contemporary Music Orchestra of the National Television (ERT)”,the “State Orchestra of Athens”,the “Chamber
Music Orchestra of the National Opera”,the “Symphony Orchestra of Volos”. He has been working with the “Greek National Opera”since 1995 as a Conductor. He has conducted recordings for the “National Radio and Television” and has worked in varius productions by the “Athens Concert Hall(Megaron)”,the “Salonika Concert Hall”,the “Irodio Theatre (Athens Music Festival).
Since 1994 he is the principal Conductor of the “Chamber Opera of Athens”.
Since 1992 he founded the “Protipon Chamber Orchestra of Athens” and since 2005 he founded the “Sinfonietta Orchestra of Athens”,which he has been conducting since then. He has taught varius Masterclasses at the “Opera Lab” of the Greek National Opera. He composes music and he has been part of the examiners boards in varius musical competitions (including the “Greek National Scholarship Foundation”).
He teaches Conducting at the “Hellenic Conservatory of Athens” and has been a founding
member of the “Conservatory Orchestra” for which he worked for 4 years (1992-1996).He
was artistic director of the Hellenic conservatory from 2003 since 2018.Also he is artistic
director of the "Future Academy of Arts " in Cyprus.Finally he is artistic director of the Contemporary orchestra ERT.